Harness saddle and girth.



R. MILLER & W. E. SELL.

HARNESS SADDLE AND GIBTH.

APPLICATION rILIm MAY 19,1913.

Patented July 28, 1914 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY MILLER, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, AND WILLIAM E. SELL, OF CANTON, OHIO,

ASSIGNORS TO THE SELL HORSE GOODS COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION OF OHIO.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Rox MILLER and WILLIAM E. SELL, citizens of the United St-ates, residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky, and Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, respectively, have invented a new and useful Harness Saddle and Girth, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in harness saddles and girths and while particularly adapted for racing harness its applicat-ion is by no means limited thereto as the saddles and girths of road harness and work harness may be made to embody the invention with most excellent results. In the construction of a proper harness some sort of saddle and girth is obviously necessary and the more properly said saddle and girth conform to anatomical conditions and structure the more comfortable and free in movement will the horse b-e and consequently the greater speed will he be able to attain without inconvenience, discomfort or injury. Having in view the importance of the attainment of the utmost possible speed and the 'best physical conditions, especially in racing, t-he importance of a properly constructed saddle and girth is apparent.

To those skilled in veterinary anatomy it is a well known fact that in the latere-thoracic region, to the rear of the elbow is the so-called front flank region where the muscular layers of the body wall are exceptionally thin and where the skin is particularly soft and tender and is underlaid with nerves and glands which are sensitive and easily irritated. In spite of the knowledge of this fact the construction of saddles and girths in harness heretofore constructed has been such as to bring the stiffer, harder and more irritating portion of the construction,

namely the connection between the saddle and the girth, directly upon the sensitive front flank area mentioned. As a result, especially in fast road work, racing and the like, there has been chaflng and irritation of the skin, nerves, glands and underlying muscles of the area mentioned and in addition there has been considerable interference with the leg flexing muscles, the freedom of action of which muscles is so essential to the attainment of the maximum possible speed. The result has been discomfort, irritation,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19, 1913.

HARNEss SADDLE .um GIRTH.

Patented July 28, 1914.

serial No. 768,418.

chafing and soreness and lack of efficiency which has in many instances been surprisingly overlooked.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a harness saddle and girth which will in the greatest possible degree overcome the objectionable features above mentioned, which will, in a general way, improve the construction of such devices,'and which will be conducive to the attainment of the highest eficiency on the part of the horse upon which the device is used. These objects, together with other object-s which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, may be attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, although the invention may be erbodied in other forms, the construction illustrated being chosen by way of example.

In the drawings Figure l is a view in elevation disclosing the front quarter of a horse with a saddle and girth embodying our invention properly in place. Fig. 2 is a perspeotive view of the saddle and girth detached from eachother. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same parts connected.

Throughout the several views similar reference numerals indicate similar parts.

More specifically describing the construction disclosed in the drawings the numeral l indicates the elbow of the horse while the numeral 2 indicates the latere-thoracic portion and the numeral 3 the hereinabove mentioned tender front flank area.

Referring now t0 the saddle and girth, the numeral t indicates the saddle generally and the numeral 5 the girth. Said saddle in its upper portion is substantially of the usual construction, provided internally with the more heavily padded portion 6 and the less heavily padded skirts 7. Especial attention is called to the short length of said skirts. It will be noted that the same do not extend downwardly as far as the hereinabove mentioned tender area, but terminate substantially midway between the dorsal and ventral lines of the horses body.

The girth 5 is formed principally of a continuous soft, flexible, well padded portion 8 of unusual length provided with buckle pipe ends 9 adapted to telescope over the ends of the saddle skirts, producing the smooth inner construction clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, when the saddle and girth are connected by means of the buckle 1() and the strap ll.

The length of the skirts of the saddle and of the girth must, of course, vary in accordance with the size of the horse upon which they are to be used, but in each instance said skirts and girth should be so proportioned in length as to bring the saddle-girth connection at or above a point midway between the dorsal and ventral lines or in other words, well up on the more fleshy portion of the side of the horse to a point to the rear of the Withers above the tender front flank area, Where the muscular layer is heavier and Where there will be no interference with the freedom of action of the muscles especially used in rac- 1nd.

zttention is called to the fact that the saddle and girth are adapted for adjustment and connection in ixed adjustment at the saddle-girth connections mentioned. The girth being continuous from the saddle-girth connection on one side to the similar connection on the other side and said girth being of uniform construction throughout its length, without means, within itself, for adjustment, it Will bear upon the horses body in an even and uniform manner throughout its length, Without undue pressure or stiffness at any point.

In use, it will be found that a saddle and girth embodying our invention will fully accomplish the objects hereinabove mentioned, thereby accomplishing the desirable results of increased ease, freedom and efliciency as will be readily understood.

l/Ve claim 1. A device of the character described, comprising a harness saddle provided With relatively short skirts, in combination with a relatively long girth of substantially uniform structure and Flexibility from end to end and having an inner, smooth, continuous surface, said girth adapted to extend over and upwardly beyond the front fiank area of a horses body on both sides thereof, and adjustable connecting means for connecting the ends of said girth to said skirts in fixed adjustment, above said front flank area, whereby to avoid chating and irritation of said area, substantially as described.

2. A device of the character described comprising a saddle provided with relay tively short skirts in combination With a. relatively long, fieXible, continuous girth having an inner smooth, surface, said girth adapted to teleseopically receive the ends of said skirts, the relative lengths of said skirts and girth being such as to locate the saddle-girth connections substantially at points midway between the ventral and dorsal lines of the horses body and above the front Hank regions.

In testimony that we claim the above we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two Witnesses.

ROY MILLER, WILLIAM E. SELL. Witnesses for Miller:

D. W. BATsoN, J. W. ELLIOTT. `Witnesses for Sell:

HAZEL OWEN, WILLIAM H. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

